Strength comes from within. And from guns.

I’ve just finished watching Battlestar Galactica. Overall it was epic, although I do think the series dragged on a bit too long. What I enjoyed most were the characters – the battles got repetitive and the politics were a bit silly – but some of the characters were outstanding.

01. The first character I fell in love with:

Gaius Baltar. I don’t think I would have continued with the series if not for Gaius going crazy. He has the best lines of anyone. He’s also the most earnestly hapless, with attempts to cover that are so sad and pathetic that you can’t help rooting for him. And when it was revealed that Caprica Six had her own visions of Gaius, I knew I loved it.

But there’s more than that. There was his overwhelming self-preservation and persistence – much to the annoyance of many - that I couldn't help but admire. He never gave up, he never faded away like he could easily have done. In so many cases he didn’t even intend to be in the limelight (despite enjoying the attention and flattery when he was), but he was still compelled to use his brains and talents in whatever way he could. I’ve seen him described as “amoral” but I don’t agree with that. His values might have been skewed compared to the Adamas and Roslin, but he had a keen eye for social inequalities as the book he wrote in prison showed. It’s just that in any society of equals, he would want to be first. But don’t we all?

Also, he has the best hair out of the entire cast. #allthatmatters

02. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now:

Ellen Tigh. At first, she seems like just a total mess, and you’re certain that Adama’s right and that she brings out the worst in Tigh. Her flirtations seem petty and her alcoholism destructive to her and everyone around her. But then on New Caprica, her love for Tigh comes through – her sometimes-misguided devotion that leads her to do anything, anything, for him. It’s so desperate and full of her helplessness, her need to use her only resources to save him, who up to this point has been the more powerful in the relationship. And then, when her true identity is finally revealed, when you see the real peace and wisdom that she once had, when you see the power that she wielded with love for her creations, and the horrible sorrow over what had hapepned… well, let’s just say that there’s a reason she’s resorted to drinking. I certainly would.

03. The character everyone else loves that I don't:

I suspect that people loved Kara Thrace and her Special Destiny. I cannot stand her. Hotshot pilot or not, she’s just such a bitter, unfeeling person who has complete double standards for herself and everybody else.

04. The character I love that everyone else hates:

No idea. This is always such a ridiculous question!

05. The character I used to love but don't any longer:

President Roslin. I love love LOVED her at the start. She was a beacon of reason and civility in a maelstrom. And when she was struggling with that first bout of cancer, my heart was breaking for her. Man, that was powerful stuff.

But then she was miraculously cured, and immediately started to do anything to stay in power. I suppose I still have to respect her integrity, that in most cases she was doing what she thought was right. But not a few of those actions betrayed the values that she supposedly stood for.

I still cried buckets at the end, though.

06. The character I would shag anytime:

Can I have a threesome with Caprica Six and Gaius?

07. The character I want to be like:

Galen Tyrol.

Chief is the most human of them all. I loved everything about his story arcs, whether it was coming to terms with losing Boomer, his ongoing commitments to justice and workers’ rights, or his struggle to accept what he was. There was just so much passion in everything he did, and so much integrity both in how he treated people and fixed his machines. And he wants to live on an island where there are no people. So. Much. Love.

08. The character I'd slap:

09. A pairing that I love:

Oh dear, they’re both canon pairings!

10. A pairing that I hate:

Starbuck/Apollo. Usually I’m all about the forbidden love. These two were just annoying from the start.

11. Favorite character:

12. My five six (other) favorite characters:

I’ve already gone on about Chief at length. Also:

1) Athena, for all the prejudices she faced and for all the ways she continued to rock it, every single day.2) Felix Gaeta, my poor, dear boy.3) Kat, especially when she was giving Starbuck hell.4) Billy, especially when he was blushingly smitten with Dualla.5) Dualla, for not having nearly enough screen time and for being amazing every time she did.

Only two survived to the very end. Sigh.

ETA: Oops, I almost forgot one!

13. My five least favorite characters:

1) Kara Thrace, obviously.2) John/Dean Stockwell cylon, who just annoyed me, especially when there were multiple versions of him in any one scene.3) Sam Anders, although he sure turned around at the end.4) Lee Adama, who was just bore-ring. Although near the end, when he took up law and let his hair grow, he was a lot more interesting.5) Tory Foster

14. My deep, dark fandom secret:

I have two, and neither of them are really secrets. First, I wish Laura Roslin had died in the second season. She had such a powerful performance up to that point. Saving her was such an anticlimax and devalued what had come before. Second, I abhorred the songfic ending! WTH was that? Who thought that was a good idea? Where did they get all the acid to write the S3 finale?